Beyond Sister Souljah

June 18, 1992

One attractive aspect of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign has been his continued stress on unity and healing. He has called on Americans to stop the blame game and to aim for a fairer society that works for the people who "play by the rules." He has rejected the politics of divisiveness. But now even this stance has gotten him into trouble.

Last week, Mr. Clinton made a speech at a meeting of Jesse L. Jackson's Rainbow Coalition in which he criticized a statement by a rap singer, Sister Souljah. She had been quoted in an interview with The Washington Post as saying, "If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?" Mr. Clinton rightly condemned the statement as "the kind of hatred you do not honor." "We have an obligation, all of us, to call attention to prejudice wherever we see it," Mr. Clinton said.

Mr. Jackson said it was an unfair attack on Sister Souljah, who first claimed she had been misquoted in the article, then said her words had been taken out of context. But a look at the liner notes from the singer's album, "360 Degrees of Power," shows that the remarks Mr. Clinton quoted were entirely consistent with Ms. Souljah's world view. An example: "They [whites] give you scholarships to their schools so you can learn to think and act like them. So they can use you against your people like these pitiful black mayors and Clarence Thomas." She also says she believes that white teachers won't teach black children to survive in America "because black kids gotta compete against white kids and white people want their kids to win."

Sister Souljah's message is one of alienation and racial hatred. Mr. Clinton was right -- the Rainbow Coalition's choice to feature her as a speaker was ill-advised.

There is speculation that Mr. Clinton attacked the rap singer in an attempt to court white voters. This would be more believable if Mr. Clinton did not have a clear record, so far, of opposing divisive politics. And it does Mr. Clinton no good to antagonize Mr. Jackson or his followers. The Rainbow Coalition could be a key factor in the campaign. If Mr. Clinton is to have any chance of winning in November, minority voters will have to register and go to the polls in much bigger numbers than they have mustered in the primaries.

Mr. Jackson's organization is the best vehicle for getting those people out to vote. Mr. Clinton needs it -- yet he chose to make a principled stand against racial hatred from any group, even though the risk was great.

Mr. Clinton and all Americans should be concerned that such messages as Sister Souljah's are broadcast, and try to understand the profound alienation that would create such attitudes. While rightly condemning such a message, the community, and the mainstream political parties, should not ignore it.

Mr. Clinton was making a point that Mr. Jackson himself has made many times. Mr. Jackson should back off, and both leaders should do their utmost to ensure that the ensuing debate does not degenerate into an exchange of prejudices and stereotypes. The challenge, for both of them, is to convince the fans of Ms. Souljah that there is hope beyond racism